Boundary crisis: Shallow graves, mutilated bodies discovered in Ebonyi community

In a disturbing escalation of the protracted land dispute between the Amasiri (Afikpo LGA) and Oso Edda (Edda LGA) communities in Ebonyi State, security operatives have discovered multiple shallow graves containing mutilated bodies.

According to available information, combined security teams found several sites where victims, including adults and children, were buried. Many of the bodies were discovered in a mutilated state.

The Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations of the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Lt Colonel Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, disclosed this while reacting to group allegations of militarisation of the Amasiri community.

In his reaction, Ayeni said troops were deployed to the communities to carry out the curfew declared by the governor and protect lives and property and not harass and intimidate the residents.

According to him, “Credible intelligence has further revealed multiple sites where victims were buried, including adults and children.

“The discovery of these graves underscores the scale of the crimes committed and the necessity of a robust security presence to dismantle criminal networks and prevent further violence.

“Troops were deployed as a direct response to the gruesome killings and beheadings of four individuals in Okporojo village, Edda LGA, and subsequent discoveries of shallow graves containing mutilated bodies in Amasiri.

“These atrocities demanded urgent intervention to restore peace, protect innocent lives, and bring perpetrators to justice.

“The attention of the Headquarters, 82 Division Nigerian Army (NA), has been drawn to some videos currently circulating on social media, featuring journalists condemning the deployment of troops in Amasiri following the killing of innocent citizens in the Amasiri–Edda community, Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

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“The intervention of the NA and other security agencies in Amasiri is not an invasion as characterised by these videos.

“This narrative is misleading and does not reflect the true purpose of the operation.

“The Ebonyi State Government, in line with its constitutional responsibility to safeguard lives and property, therefore imposed a curfew and temporarily closed schools in Amasiri to prevent escalation and ensure public safety.

“The security agencies were deployed to enforce the curfew, ensure uninterrupted investigations and security operations, protect medical teams, and manage the humanitarian implications of the crisis.

“The joint teams comprising the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Police, Department of State Security, and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps have been conducting intelligence-driven patrols, cordon-and-search operations, and forensic exhumations in the affected areas.

“It is important to stress that the deployment of troops is not targeted at the people of Amasiri but at criminal elements exploiting communal tensions to perpetrate heinous crimes.

“The operation is intelligence-led, professional, and conducted in partnership with local leadership to ensure transparency and accountability.

“The Nigerian Army and sister agencies remain committed to protecting all citizens without bias.

“The intervention will continue until peace is fully restored, perpetrators are apprehended and justice is served,” Ayeni stated.

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